LGBT K-pop stars: former Xeno-T member Hansol to all-transgender group Lady – 8 Korean idols who came out

Nov 12 , 2020

Topp Dogg’s Hansol, D.I.P’s Seungho and B.Nish of D. I. P and Marshall Bang, aka MRSHLL, are just a handful of K-pop artists who have publicly come out as part of the LGBTQ+ community. Photo: @another_minsung; @younghoe.e; @marshallxyz/Instagram

Korean boy band D.I.P members Seungho and B.Nish admitted they were dating on Instagram Live, trans model Choi Han-bit was a member of girl group Mercury and R&B artist MRSHLL was warned off coming out as gay by friends

The discussion of LGBTQ+ issues is still widely regarded as taboo in South Korea, and while a few brave artists have stepped out to challenge gender norms, there remains little representation of non-straight lives in the mainstream media.

But a few trailblazing K-pop idols and groups have still opened about their LGBTQ+ identities over the years – here are five of them.

Most of my friends in Korea told me it was social suicide

American-Korean rapper MRSHLL, after coming out

Lady

Debuting in 2005, Lady was South Korea’s first ever all-transgender band. The four-member pop group consisted of members Sinae, Sahara, Binu and Yuna, who reportedly beat out hundreds of other candidates to be part of the pioneering project.

Lady released a self-titled, eight-track album under Logi Entertainment and gained attention from the media for their band’s concept, performing on local music shows. Their music was not well-received by the general public, however, and they disbanded in 2007.

Choi Han-bit

Choi Han-bit is a model and member of Mercury, a girl group under Gaon Entertainment that debuted in 2016, but has since been rumoured to have disbanded in the same or the following year. Choi gained attention for being open about her transgender status, particularly her gender confirmation surgery in 2006, which was fully supported by her parents.

“I have found many sexual minorities who distanced themselves from society to avoid public exposure,” she said in an interview with The Korea Times. “I would like to advise them not to hide and come out. With a fear of public attention, it’s all but impossible to change people’s attitudes toward us.”

In 2009, she took part in the SBS-sponsored TV show Supermodel Contest. Some viewers found her participation unfair, but SBS backed their decision by saying that it would be a “violation of human rights” if they disqualified her. She also went on to compete in the third season of Korea’s Next Top Model in 2012, and continues her career as a professional model today.